Social Work

Social Workers work with individuals, families and communities, in a diverse range of areas, to overcome social challenges and to realise their rights as citizens in today's world. The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) gives you the knowledge and professional skills to be an effective practising social worker. There is a high demand for qualified social workers in New Zealand and overseas and in various areas of social work practice.

Highlights

• An integrated approach – combining key knowledge from the social sciences, social work theory and policy, specialised knowledge for fields of practice and supervised field placements - so you are well prepared for working within your chosen field.
• This degree is a professional qualification recognised by the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board. You'll be able to apply for social work registration, thereby enhancing your career and salary opportunities.
• The opportunity to major in an area of interest from your second year onwards.
• Based on a record of successful study, you may be able to enter into the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) programmein your final year of the BSW degree.
• Ministry of Social Development NGO Social Work Study Awards are available.

This programme consists of 480 points. Below is a sample of how the programme is structured. Depending on the semester you begin your study, the order in which you study these courses may differ. Each course is worth 15 points unless indicated.

Year One

The first year will give you a foundation in social science knowledge for social work practice, looking at society and responses to social problems and challenges. You will discover how sociology, psychology and understanding human communication can assist social workers to make sense of the complex social world we live in. You will think about the importance of the Treaty of Waitangi and our diverse cultural environment in social services in New Zealand. You will also study one course from the General Education schedules available for this degree.

In the first year of study faculty staff will bring in practitioners to talk about what it means to work in each area of social work. This will help you to decide where your interest lies and which major you want to study from your second year onwards. You can also choose to select courses of interest without majoring in one specific area.

You will complete the following compulsory courses:

• HUMSERV 101 - Psychology for Human Services
• HUMSERV 102 - Lifespan Development for Human Services
• SOCWORK 111 - Professional Communication Skills
• SOCWORK 112 - Sociology for Human Services
• SOCWORK 113 - Culture and Diversity
• SOCWORK 114 - Treaty of Waitangi in Human Services
• SOCWORK 115 - The Social Work Environment
• One 15 point course from the General Education schedules available for this degree.

Year Two

In Year Two, you start to build your knowledge and skills for social work practice, as well as explore the areas of society, law and social policy. You also select one course to begin your major. You can choose to major in one of three areas: child and family practice; youth services practice or health social work practice. If you choose not to major in a particular area, you will select a course that you are interested in from the schedule. You will also study one course from the General Education schedules available for this degree.

You will complete the following compulsory courses:

• SOCWORK 211 - Social Policy Development
• SOCWORK 212 - Bicultural Social Work Practice
• SOCWORK 213 - Social Work Practice Skills
• SOCWORK 214 - Social Work Practice Theories
• SOCWORK 216 - Law and the State in Social Work
• SOCCHFAM 215 - Whānau-Family-Aiga Practice
• Course from your chosen major (or elective)
• One 15 point course from the General Education schedules available for this degree

Year Three

Year Three provides you with theory and practice courses to build on the knowledge and skills for practice, and explore how research skills can help you to become an excellent reflective social work practitioner.

You will examine the importance of understanding issues in mental health and child protection. You will also do one course within your major. If you have chosen not to take a major, you can select a course of interest from the schedule. You will also get real experience in the field through a twelve-week supervised placement in a social services agency learning from experienced social workers.

You will complete the following compulsory courses:

• SOCWORK 311 - Social Work Process and Practice
• SOCWORK 312 - Applied Social Research
• SOCWORK 315 - Organisations and Management
• SOCWORK 317 - Supervised Field Practice and Professional Development 1 (30 points)
• SOCHLTH 313 - Mental Health in Social Practice
• SOCCHFAM 314 - Child Protection Practice
• Course from your chosen major (or elective)

Year Four

In your final year of study you will either do Year Four of the BSW or the BSW(Hons) programme.

Year Four provides you with advanced theory and practice courses to build on the knowledge, skills and the experience you have gained on your third-year placement. You will examine the social work profession in greater detail, look at issues for community development and learn how to utilise research skills and findings in your practice. You will take a Stage 4 course in your major and get to choose one elective. Again, if you have chosen not to take a major, you can select a course of interest from the range of elective courses. You will also get further field experience through an approximately three to four month supervised placement in a social services setting. If you are doing a major, it is most likely that this placement will be in a relevant agency context.

You will complete the following compulsory courses:

• SOCWORK 356 - Community Development
• SOCWORK 411 - Social Work Interventions for Best Practice
• SOCWORK 413 - The Social Work Discourse
• SOCWORK 414 - Research and Evaluation in Social Practice
• SOCWORK 415 - Supervised Field Practice and Professional Development 2 (30 points)
• Course from your chosen major (or elective)

You also will complete 15 points from any course within the Bachelor of Social Work schedule.

Note: programme structure differs in Year Four if you are selected into the BSW(Hons).

Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)

Students will be selected in to the BSW(Hons) programme at the end of the third year of study. Selection is on the basis of successful study in the Bachelor of Social Work. To be eligible to enter the BSW(Hons) programme you will be required to have completed 360 points in required courses from the BSW schedule, with an average grade of B or higher in specified courses above Stage 2.

If you are selected into the Honours programme you will undertake a supervised field placement (30 points), two compulsory courses (30 points), one elective in your major, plus a 45 point dissertation based on a research project.

By completing the the BSW(Hons) programme in your final year you will still graduate with a degree qualification recognised by the Social Workers Registration Board, with the added benefit of a year of postgraduate study and preparation for further research.

• General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level. A minimum of three A-Level subjects completed, with at least 'C' grade or higher attained. General Studies or similar general papers cannot be included.
• Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma (minimum total score of 24).
• IELTS (Academic): Overall score of 6.0 and all bands 5.5 or better
• Internet-based TOEFL (iBT): Overall score of 80 plus a written score of 21
• Paper-based TOEFL: Overall score of 550 plus Essay (TWE) of 4.5
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) and Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE): Overall score of 169 and all bands 162 or better
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: Overall score of 50 and no PTE communicative skills score below 42. You must authorise the University to view and verify your PTE scores. 
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB): 80

• University of Auckland International Student Scholarships